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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2
                                   AGREEMENT

                               NOVEMBER 19, 1998


     This document sets forth an agreement (this "Agreement") between Philip
Services Corp. ("PSC") on behalf of itself and each of its affiliates
(collectively, "Affiliates"), Foothill Partners III, L.P. ("Foothill"), American
Real Estate Holdings, L.P. ("AREH") and High River Limited Partnership ("High
River"), regarding the terms and conditions for a prepackaged plan of
reorganization for PSC and its Affiliates (the "Plan"), pursuant to which a
restructuring of PSC and its Affiliates will be accomplished, and related
agreements. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Existing Secured Lenders"
means the lender parties to the existing Credit Agreement (the "Existing Credit
Agreement") dated as of August 11, 1997 among PSC; Philip Services (Delaware),
Inc.; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC"), as Administrative Agent;
Bankers Trust Company ("BTCo"), as Syndication Agent; CIBC and BTCo, as
Co-Arrangers; Dresdner Bank Canada and Dresdner Bank AG New York Branch, as
Documentation Agent; and the various lenders from time to time parties thereto,
including all amendments and modifications thereto. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term "Majority Existing Secured Lenders" means, collectively,
holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding indebtedness under
the Existing Credit Agreement.

     WHEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the adequacy, sufficiency 
and receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, PSC, High River, AREH and Foothill 
agree as follows:

Principal Economic Terms of Plan:       Subject to an adjustment mechanism
                                        (limited solely to an adjustment of the
                                        percentage of reorganized PSC common
                                        stock to be distributed to existing PSC
                                        shareholders) to be mutually agreed upon
                                        by the parties hereto in the event that
                                        assets of PSC or its Affiliates are sold
                                        and the proceeds thereof used to repay
                                        indebtedness under the Existing Credit
                                        Agreement prior to the consummation of
                                        the Plan, existing PSC shareholders
                                        will receive a pro rata share of 10% of
                                        reorganized PSC's common stock and the
                                        Existing Secured Lenders will receive a
                                        pro rata share of 90% of reorganized
                                        PSC's common stock, provided however
                                        that in no event shall existing PSC
                                        shareholders receive more than 15% of
                                        reorganized PSC's common stock in
                                        aggregate.

                                        Reorganized PSC will have aggregate pro
                                        forma debt of $300 million, excluding
                                        Unimpaired Debt as defined below (the
                                        "New Notes"), which will have terms and
                                        conditions mutually acceptable to PSC
                                        and the Majority Existing Secured
                                        Lenders (including Foothill, AREH and
                                        High River). $200 million of the New
                                        Notes will be secured by a first
                                        priority lien on all assets of PSC and
                                        its Affiliates and will be distributed,
                                        on a pro rata basis, to the Existing
                                        Secured Lenders. $100 million of the New
                                        Notes will be unsecured and will be
                                        distributed in full and final settlement
                                        of non-ordinary course liabilities,
                                        direct and indirect, of PSC and its
                                        Affiliates (other than claims of the
                                        Existing Secured Lenders).

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                                        Liabilities and accruals of PSC and its
                                        Affiliates incurred in the ordinary
                                        course of business will be unimpaired
                                        ("Unimpaired Liabilities").

Other Plan Provisions:                  All other provisions of the Plan and any
                                        related documents and agreements, which
                                        shall not be inconsistent with the terms
                                        and conditions of this Agreement, shall
                                        be reasonably acceptable to PSC, the
                                        Majority Existing Secured Lenders and
                                        High River, AREH and Foothill.

Plan Timetable:                         PSC and, if necessary, certain
                                        Affiliates to be mutually determined by
                                        PSC and the Majority Existing Secured
                                        Lenders, will commence, in a venue
                                        mutually agreeable to PSC and the
                                        Majority Existing Secured Lenders,
                                        voluntary insolvency proceedings (the
                                        "Cases"), including the filing of the
                                        Plan and accompanying disclosure
                                        statement (the "Disclosure Statement"),
                                        not later than February 28, 1999.

                                        The Disclosure Statement shall be
                                        approved by the court presiding over the
                                        Cases (the "Court") not later than April
                                        15, 1999.

                                        The Court shall confirm the Plan not 
                                        later than June 30, 1999.

                                        The Plan shall become effective not 
                                        later than July 30, 1999.

Standstill and Efforts to Consummate:   Subject to the provisions of subparts
                                        (a) and (d) under the heading
                                        "Termination Event" below, each of High
                                        River, Foothill and AREH hereby agrees
                                        that neither they, nor any of their
                                        respective affiliates, officers,
                                        directors, partners or agents shall (a)
                                        commence any involuntary insolvency
                                        proceeding against PSC or any of its
                                        Affiliates under the laws of the United
                                        States, Canada or any other country or
                                        any state or province, (b) except to the
                                        extent that PSC or any of its Affiliates
                                        are the subject of any insolvency
                                        proceedings, initiate any legal action
                                        against PSC or any of its Affiliates
                                        with respect to any claims against or
                                        interests in PSC or any of its
                                        Affiliates or (c) take or encourage any
                                        other party to take any action
                                        inconsistent with (a) or (b) above
                                        (including without limitation giving any
                                        direction to the agent for the Existing
                                        Credit Agreement), unless and until a
                                        Termination Event (defined below)
                                        occurs.


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                                        Each of High River, AREH and Foothill
                                        hereby agrees, and agrees to cause any
                                        affiliate that holds or may hereafter
                                        hold PSC debt, to enter into the Lock-Up
                                        Agreement (defined below) on or before
                                        December 15, 1998.

                                        Each of High River, AREH and Foothill
                                        agrees that it shall not sell, assign or
                                        otherwise transfer any indebtedness of
                                        PSC to any other person or entity unless
                                        such person or entity agrees in writing
                                        to be bound by the terms and conditions
                                        of this Agreement as if such person or
                                        entity were a signatory hereto.

                                        Subject to the terms and conditions
                                        hereof, until the occurrence of a
                                        Termination Event, PSC shall take all
                                        reasonable actions to seek to effectuate
                                        the transactions set forth herein.

Termination Event:                      This Agreement and the obligations of
                                        the parties hereto shall expire upon the
                                        earliest to occur of the following (each
                                        a "Termination Event"); provided,
                                        however, that PSC's obligations set
                                        forth under the heading "Board of
                                        Director Changes" below shall survive 
                                        any Termination Event:

                                        (a) failure of PSC and the Majority
                                        Existing Secured Lenders (including High
                                        River, AREH and Foothill) to enter into
                                        a binding agreement consistent with the
                                        terms and conditions of this Agreement
                                        ("Lock-Up Agreement"), on or before
                                        December 15, 1998, pursuant to which the
                                        Majority Existing Secured Lenders agree
                                        to vote for the Plan. The Lock-Up
                                        Agreement shall be in form and substance
                                        mutually acceptable to PSC and the
                                        Majority Existing Secured Lenders
                                        (including High River, AREH and
                                        Foothill);

                                        (b) failure of PSC to meet any of the
                                        deadlines set forth under "Plan
                                        Timetable" above;

                                        (c) failure of PSC to satisfy its
                                        obligations set forth under the heading
                                        "Board of Director Changes" below (which
                                        failure may be enforced by injunctive
                                        action despite the occurrence of a
                                        Termination Event) or the failure of
                                        PSC's shareholders to elect the New
                                        Directors (defined below) to the Board;
                                        and

                                        (d) PSC seeking to implement an
                                        Alternative Transaction that has been
                                        approved by the Majority Existing
                                        Secured


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                             Lenders but has not been approved by High River,
                             AREH and Foothill.

Alternative Transactions:    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
                             contrary, PSC maintains at all times (both before
                             and after execution of the Lock-Up Agreement and
                             the filing of the Plan) the right to pursue,
                             negotiate with any third party, and seek to
                             implement, any potential transaction that
                             restructures substantially all of PSC and its
                             Affiliates' debt and equity and that PSC believes,
                             in its reasonable discretion, may result in a more
                             favorable outcome to PSC and its stakeholders (an
                             "Alternative Transaction") than the transactions
                             set forth in this Agreement or the Plan. If PSC
                             determines that any Alternative Transaction may
                             result in a more favorable outcome to PSC and its
                             stakeholders than the transactions set forth in
                             this Agreement or the Plan, PSC shall have the
                             right to present such Alternative Transaction to
                             the Existing Secured Lenders for their
                             consideration; provided, however, that PSC shall
                             not seek to effectuate any Alternative Transaction
                             that does not pay the claims of the Existing
                             Secured Lenders in full in cash or that has not
                             been approved by the Majority Existing Secured
                             Lenders in their reasonable discretion.

Board of Director Changes:   Upon the execution of this Agreement, High River,
                             AREH and Foothill jointly shall have the right to
                             designate a total of two (2) persons to serve on
                             PSC's Board of Directors, one of whom must be a
                             Canadian resident and one of whom must be a United
                             States resident (collectively, the "New
                             Directors"). In addition, the New Directors shall
                             be nominated by PSC management for re-election to
                             the Board at any PSC shareholders meeting that is
                             conducted between the date hereof and the earlier
                             to occur of (x) the effective date of the Plan or
                             any Alternative Transaction (approved by the
                             Majority Existing Secured Lenders), (y) a breach of
                             this Agreement by High River, AREH or Foothill and
                             (z) such date as High River, AREH and Foothill,
                             collectively, hold less than $50.0 million in
                             principal amount of indebtedness owing by PSC. The
                             New Directors shall serve on PSC's Board until the
                             earlier of (a) the designation of a new Board of
                             Directors, if any, pursuant to the Plan or an
                             Alternative Transaction

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                                        (approved by the Majority Existing
                                        Secured Lenders), (b) such date as High
                                        River, AREH and Foothill, collectively,
                                        hold less than $50.0 million in
                                        principal amount of indebtedness owing
                                        by PSC and (c) a breach of this
                                        Agreement by High River, AREH or
                                        Foothill. As promptly as practicable
                                        after the designation of the New
                                        Directors, PSC shall, in good faith,
                                        take all appropriate corporate
                                        governance actions to effectuate the
                                        addition of the New Directors to the
                                        Board of Directors, and will thereafter
                                        take all appropriate action to
                                        effectuate the replacement by High
                                        River, AREH and Foothill of any one or
                                        more New Directors as may be required
                                        due to death, resignation or other
                                        inability to serve. At no time hereafter
                                        shall PSC or any of its Affiliates take
                                        or cause to be taken any action to
                                        change the ratio of all Directors to New
                                        Directors on PSC's Board.

Search Committee:                       Immediately following the appointment of
                                        the New Directors, a special committee
                                        of the Board shall be formed (consisting
                                        of no more than 3 Directors, one of whom
                                        shall be a New Director) for the purpose
                                        of commencing a search for a permanent
                                        CEO for PSC.

Governing Law and Enforcement:          This Agreement shall be governed by the 
                                        laws of the State of Delaware, without 
                                        giving effect to choice of law 
                                        provisions thereunder.

                                        The parties hereto acknowledge that
                                        monetary damages may not provide a
                                        sufficient remedy for a breach of this
                                        Agreement, and thus hereby consent to
                                        the entry of equitable remedies
                                        including injunctive relief and consent
                                        to the jurisdiction of the Federal
                                        District Court in Delaware.

Public Announcements:                   The parties hereto agree that all 
                                        public announcements of the entry into 
                                        or the terms and conditions of this 
                                        Agreement shall be mutually acceptable 
                                        to each of them; provided, however, 
                                        that if agreement among such parties 
                                        cannot be reached, each of them may 
                                        issue any statement or make any 
                                        announcement it deems necessary or 
                                        appropriate. It is understood that on 
                                        the date hereof, PSC intends to 
                                        announce a letter of intent among PSC, 
                                        Soule Enterprises LLC and another third 
                                        party.


Agreed, acknowledged and accepted
as of the date first written above:

PHILIP SERVICES CORP.


By:                                         
     ______________________________      _______________________________

Its:                                              
     _______________________________     _______________________________


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Agreed, acknowledged and accepted
as of the date first written above:



FOOTHILL PARTNERS III, L.P.



By:       
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Its:  Managing General Parnter                        



AMERICAN REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, L.P.



By:   American Property Investors, Inc.

Its:  General Partner



      By:      
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      Its: 
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HIGH RIVER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



By:   Riverdale L.L.C.

Its:  General Partner



      By:     
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      Its:                  
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